A remotely operated delivery vehicle transports a storage container between a location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle may include a rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system. Additionally, rolling device motors are provided for driving the rolling devices. A power source provides propulsion power to the rolling device motors. A container carrier receives the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system, which is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle. The remotely operated delivery vehicle includes a vehicle body, rolling devices connected to the vehicle body, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices in a horizontal plane, and a power source connected to the rolling device motors. A container carrier is adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system, which is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle. The remotely operated delivery vehicle includes a vehicle body, rolling devices connected to the vehicle body, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices in a horizontal plane, and a power source connected to the rolling device motors. A container carrier is adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

A remotely operated delivery vehicle transports a storage container between a location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle may include a rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system. Additionally, rolling device motors are provided for driving the rolling devices. A power source provides propulsion power to the rolling device motors. A container carrier receives the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage grid for storage of storage containers and a delivery system for transport of said storage containers between a delivery port of the storage grid and an access point of the delivery system. The access point is adapted for handling of items held in the storage containers by a robotic operator or human operator. The delivery system includes a delivery rail system including at least a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X), and at least a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), the first and second sets of rails together defining a delivery grid of delivery grid cells, the access point, and a remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising a motorized vehicle body and a container carrier provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container of the storage containers. The delivery vehicle is moveable on the delivery grid of the delivery rail system. The delivery grid provides one or more delivery grid cells for the remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point as well as a plurality of delivery grid cells adjacent the one or more delivery grid cells of the access point, such that there is more than one path to and/or from the access point for the remotely operated delivery vehicle via the plurality of delivery grid cells. The remotely operated delivery vehicle is arranged to transport the storage container from the delivery port of the storage grid across the delivery grid to the access point and return the storage container to the delivery port for storage within the storage grid. The access point is provided in a container accessing station, said station being arranged for separating the robotic or human operator from the delivery rail system and the remotely operated delivery vehicle. The container accessing station comprises a cabinet comprising walls and a top cover supported thereon, wherein the items held in the storage container carried by a remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point is reachable through an opening in the top cover.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage grid for storage of storage containers and a delivery system for transport of said storage containers between a delivery port of the storage grid and an access point of the delivery system. The access point is adapted for handling of items held in the storage containers by a robotic operator or human operator. The delivery system includes a delivery rail system including at least a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X), and at least a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), the first and second sets of rails together defining a delivery grid of delivery grid cells, the access point, and a remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising a motorized vehicle body and a container carrier provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container of the storage containers. The delivery vehicle is moveable on the delivery grid of the delivery rail system. The delivery grid provides one or more delivery grid cells for the remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point as well as a plurality of delivery grid cells adjacent the one or more delivery grid cells of the access point, such that there is more than one path to and/or from the access point for the remotely operated delivery vehicle via the plurality of delivery grid cells. The remotely operated delivery vehicle is arranged to transport the storage container from the delivery port of the storage grid across the delivery grid to the access point and return the storage container to the delivery port for storage within the storage grid. The access point is provided in a container accessing station, said station being arranged for separating the robotic or human operator from the delivery rail system and the remotely operated delivery vehicle. The container accessing station comprises a cabinet comprising walls and a top cover supported thereon, wherein the items held in the storage container carried by a remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point is reachable through an opening in the top cover.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container from a container handling vehicle to a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column, and further adapted for transport of a storage container from the delivery port to the container handling vehicle. The storage container is configured to be stored in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle, which includes a container carrier adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container from a container handling vehicle to a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column, and further adapted for transport of a storage container from the delivery port to the container handling vehicle. The storage container is configured to be stored in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle, which includes a container carrier adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

A method controls the operation of container handling vehicles and remotely operated specialized container handling vehicles. A specified storage container is to be transferred from a storage column and its corresponding grid cell to a specialized container handling vehicle. The method includes determining, by an operational controller, which container handling vehicle shall be assigned for the job; sending instructions to a first controller in the selected container handling vehicle instructing the selected container handling vehicle to pick up the storage container from the grid cell and to lower the storage container to a selected port; assigning a specific specialized container handling vehicle of the remotely operated specialized container handling vehicles to retrieve the specified storage container from the port; and transmitting instructions from the operational controller to a second controller in the specific specialized container handling vehicle to retrieve the specified storage container at the selected port. The specific specialized container handling vehicle is selected based on minimizing the total elapsed time for transferring the storage container between the selected container handling vehicle and the specific specialized container handling vehicle.

A method controls the operation of container handling vehicles and remotely operated specialized container handling vehicles. A specified storage container is to be transferred from a storage column and its corresponding grid cell to a specialized container handling vehicle. The method includes determining, by an operational controller, which container handling vehicle shall be assigned for the job; sending instructions to a first controller in the selected container handling vehicle instructing the selected container handling vehicle to pick up the storage container from the grid cell and to lower the storage container to a selected port; assigning a specific specialized container handling vehicle of the remotely operated specialized container handling vehicles to retrieve the specified storage container from the port; and transmitting instructions from the operational controller to a second controller in the specific specialized container handling vehicle to retrieve the specified storage container at the selected port. The specific specialized container handling vehicle is selected based on minimizing the total elapsed time for transferring the storage container between the selected container handling vehicle and the specific specialized container handling vehicle.